Crawl spaces are often neglected, even ignored. However, they are integral parts of the home’s foundation. If your crawl space has problems, you will start to see warning signs that it needs immediate attention.
Rot
Dampness leads to rot. And since the crawl space stays relatively dark, it’s the perfect breeding ground for fungi growth, which in turn, causes sills, floors joists, posts, and beams to rot as well. Although wood within the crawl space may still appear strong, it quickly loses its durability when invaded by fungi growth and moisture, and will gradually become softer once rot sets in.
Uneven, Sagging Floors
When the crawl space is compromised, the result will be uneven, bouncy, sagging or even sinking floors. When moisture is constantly present within the crawl space, the action of floors buckling when walked on will accelerate.
Interior Cracks
If the house’s framing has been significantly affected by rot, you may begin to see cracks in interior and exterior walls and in multiple other places. Moldings around the ceiling may separate, gaps may form between walls and ceilings, and windows and doors may pull away from framing and be difficult to close.
Presence of Mildew
If a lot of moisture stays within the crawl space, it’s likely to cause the growth mildew in the home, especially on the floors and on the lower parts of closet walls. When clothing is stored in a closet invaded by mildew, it will have a musty smell thus heightening allergies or asthma symptoms.
Condensation
Condensation forms on pipes and ductwork within the crawl space when warm air meets cool air underneath the home. The result is stained, splintered wood, stained concrete, drops appearing on metal objects and droopy, soggy insulation. Additionally, when a crawl space has concrete floor slabs, water can rise up through cracks in the floor and can cause your crawl space to flood.
Cracks in Walls and Slabs
Uneven foundation settling within the crawl space results from soil (especially clay soils) expanding and contracting against the wall or slab due to the presence of excess moisture. Drying causes it to contract.
Insect Infestations
The presence of termites and roaches nests are another red flag that there is excess moisture built up in the crawlspace. Excess moisture can be due to ground water, plumbing leaks, or condensation. Regardless of the source, the long-term solution is to maintain a dry crawl space.
Rust
Rust is another sign of excessive crawl space moisture. It’s easy to find rust on steel posts, steel window frames, vents, metal heating ducts, and mechanical equipment.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a white chalky substance that typically appears around wet areas is a sign that there is excessive moisture in the crawl space.
Crawlspace Depot told us, “The crawl space protects plumbing system, insulation, and duct work and framing components (sills, first-floor joist, and beams), and waterproofing systems. Since the crawl space covers the entire perimeter of the home’s foundation, a large portion of the air in the crawl space makes its way inside of the living space.” When the crawl space needs attention, it can wreak havoc on the home’s foundation. By the time the homeowner sees one or more crawl space issues on the checklist, major repairs may need to be done to bring it back in good condition. One of the simplest measures to prevent damage from occurring within the crawl space is to keep it dry.
